Question
Why am I HIV negative if my boyfriend is HIV positive?
29 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Sero different couples.
My partner and I recently went for an HIV test and my results came negative while his came positive. This is very strange because in the 2 years that we have been together, we hardly ever use a condom?
How does this come about? are there other cases like mine? is this possible?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing? and how is your partner?
Your situation is very common and you have just been lucky. The risk of catching HIV is usually quite low, even if you don’t always use condoms. It also related to many things, including your partners viral load (ie how infections he or she is).
The risk is highest in the first few months after infection (1 in 10 or higher). After the first year when viral load is lower, this might only be 1 in 500.
Depending on the type of sex you have, and how often, with these number you see how it could just be luck. You could still catch HIV the next time you are at risk. You should also have another HIV test in 3 months, to check that you were not infected in the few months prior to your original test.
A small percentage of people (less than 1% in the UK), have genetic protection against HIV infection. There are no commercial tests that are able to check this.
While many people think (or hope) they have this protection, and that they will be lucky and not catch HIV if they don’t use a condom, in reality they are usually wrong. This is why numbers of new infections are still increasing each year.
Your partners diagnosis sounds like it was a shock for both of you. Take time to find good resources and support, both for your partner and yourself while you come to terms with what has happened. This affects people in all sorts of ways, but with good treatment and care, your partner can expect to lead a long life.
Also, once your partner has undetectable viral load in ART, they are no longer able to transmit HIV.
For more information on monitoring and treatment see the i-Base Introduction to ART. Please also tell your partner that i-Base run a free treatment phoneline if he would like to talk directly about his care.
This answer was updated in January 2018 from a question posted in October 2007.
Hi about 6 months ago I had sex with a dude without a condom since then my lymph nodes have become swollen but they don’t hurt and today I found out he has been positive since 2006 what is the chance of me having HIV
My two boyfriends tested HIV negative while i tested HIV positive. Can that be possible?
My boyfriend and I have been together for 8 months. On the 2 months and 2 weeks mark he had an HIV test done and two weeks later it came back negative. How accurate are these results? I’m worried and would just like to be able to sleep well. Thanks.
Hi, thank you for your question. It is very difficult for you to have been infected with HIV just by living with your mum even when she was very sick. The only way you will know if you have HIV is if you go for a confidential test. I understand that it is difficult and scary to go for a test but it may put your mind at rest and let you live a healthy life whatever the outcome. If you find out that you do have HIV then it does not necessarily mean your boyfriend will also be positive. If you would like to talk to someone about the test and what it would involve then please call the treatment information phoneline (Mon-Wed 12-4pm). It is confidential and free to call. Please let us know how you got on.
I’m considering entering a relationship with a man who has had the courage to be up front about his status. He’s HIV and hep B positive. He is on meds, and the HIV is in undetectable ranges (has been for a long time). How large are the risks? Does hep B affect the infectiousness of HIV? How good of an indicator of the lack of infectiousness of HIV is undetectability in blood (given that I’ve read that it may not necessarily mean much about the magnitude of the virus’ presence in semen)?
Thank you so much.
My mum was tested HIV positive in 2004, and in 2009 in she stopped takin her meds for a few months. In November she was admitted to hospital and after that I started getting headaches, swollen glands, feeling weak and earaches. I’ve had this for about 8 months now but I’m too scared to see a doctor because I’m only 16 and I still want to enjoy my life and I have a boyfriend who I’m scared for. If I have HIV does that mean he has it too and do I actually have HIV?
Please help as I get no sleep over this
You do not need to worry. If your girlfriend is HIV positive and you are HIV negative then there are ways in which you can continue to be in a relationship with your girlfriend and still protect yourself from becoming infected. Please follow this link to find out more.
My girlfriend is HIV positive. She pricked herself while working in the lab and I tested negative. I test myself every week. I’m afraid, please help
A negative results means you are negative, so long as you have not been at any other risk since your last test.
Man, if it is possible, if in some weird way if i turn out to be HIV negative in the next 3 to 6 months…am i truly HIV negative? or will it be hidden somehow?